In response to recommendations of the Review of Higher Education (the Bradley Review), the bill amends the:

Social Security Act 1991

to: phase-in a change to the age of independence from 25 to 22 years for the purposes of the independent youth allowance; provide that youth allowance claimants will not be able to attain independence through part-time employment or wages; increase the annual parental income threshold for non-independent youth allowance recipients; change the taper rate from 25 per cent per person to 20 per cent for families for the parental income reduction for youth allowance; increase and index to the Consumer Price Index the personal income free area for youth allowance, austudy students and Australian Apprentices; and provide the training supplement to all parenting payment recipients who are subject to participation requirements; and

Social Security Act 1991

,

Higher Education Support Act 2003

,

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

,

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

and

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

to: provide for a start-up scholarship and a relocation scholarship (both to be indexed from 2011); and exempt (to an indexed threshold) merit and equity based scholarships from the income test under social security and veterans’ entitlements legislation. Also requires a review of the impact of this proposed Act on student income arrangements to be completed by 30 September 2012.

In response to recommendations of the Review of Higher Education (the Bradley Review), the bill amends the:

Social Security Act 1991

to: phase-in a change to the age of independence from 25 to 22 years for the purposes of the independent youth allowance; provide that youth allowance claimants will not be able to attain independence through part-time employment or wages; increase the annual parental income threshold for non-independent youth allowance recipients; change the taper rate from 25 per cent per person to 20 per cent for families for the parental income reduction for youth allowance; increase and index to the Consumer Price Index the personal income free area for youth allowance, austudy students and Australian Apprentices; and provide the training supplement to all parenting payment recipients who are subject to participation requirements; and

Social Security Act 1991

,

Higher Education Support Act 2003

,

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

,

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

and

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

to: provide for a start-up scholarship and a relocation scholarship (both to be indexed from 2011); and exempt (to an indexed threshold) merit and equity based scholarships from the income test under social security and veterans’ entitlements legislation.

to: increase the single maximum basic rate of certain pensions; index pensions using the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index; index pensions using a combined couple benchmark; increase pensions to compensate for anticipated increases in the living cost index arising from the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme; increase the income test taper rate and remove the additional income test free area for dependent children; introduce a Work Bonus so that certain income is disregarded as ordinary income; close the pension bonus scheme from 20 September 2009; make transitional arrangements; increase the qualifying age for age pension from 65 to 67 years; enable certain social security recipients to apply for an advance of social security entitlements; and enable certain social security recipients to be paid while studying overseas;

Social Security Act 1991

,

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

and

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

to consolidate a number of smaller payments and allowances into one pension supplement;

Social Security Act 1991

and

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

to: require income salary sacrificed to superannuation to be included as adjusted taxable income for the Commonwealth seniors health card; and exclude amounts and benefits received under the Western Australian Cost of Living Rebate Scheme and the Western Australian Country Age Pension Fuel Card from social security and veterans’ affairs income tests;

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

to change indexation arrangements for certain family tax benefit child rates and the maternity immunisation allowance;